Ranchi Food Safety Crackdown: Holi Vigilance Intensifies After Ghaziabad Paneer Scare

Ranchi: After food safety authorities in Uttar Pradesh’s Ghaziabad and Hapur seized and destroyed 1,200 kg ‘paneer’ and 200 kg ‘khoya’ ahead of Holi, triggering nationwide concern over festive food safety, the Ranchi district administration has intensified its own vigil to prevent similar violations.

In a surprise inspection drive conducted on Tuesday around Ranchi Railway Station, the district food safety team inspected 15 food establishments and imposed a total penalty of Rs 2.05 lakh on nine food business operators for violations of food safety norms.


Ranchi food safety officer Pawan Kumar on Wednesday said the exercise was aimed at preventing adulteration and maintaining hygiene standards during the high-demand festive period and it will continue.

“We are conducting targeted inspections in busy areas to ensure that safe and hygienic food is served to the public. Nine eateries were penalised after deficiencies were found during inspection,” he said.

Officials said the penalties imposed on the erring establishments ranged from Rs 5,000 to Rs 75,000, depending on the nature and severity of violations.

During the drive, the team checked hotels, dairies, restaurants and sweet shops in the railway station area.

Establishments found lacking in compliance were issued improvement notices under the Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulations, 2011 and Section 32 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. Penalties were imposed under Section 69 of the Act.

A mobile food testing van was also deployed for on-the-spot screening of food samples. Officials particularly focused on sweets and milk-based products to detect adulteration and the use of artificial colours, which often see a spike during Holi.

Kumar said small traders with an annual turnover below Rs 12 lakh could face penalties up to Rs 1 lakh along with seizure and destruction of unsafe food items. For larger businesses with turnover above Rs 12 lakh, samples would be sent for laboratory testing and legal action would be initiated if violations are confirmed.

The drive will remain suspended for two days due to the President’s visit and will resume from Friday.

Authorities reiterated that there will be zero tolerance towards food safety negligence during the festive season.